Sarbagita area: Urgency of Bali transportation management

This article has been translated by PwC Indonesia as part of our Indonesia Infrastructure News Service. PwC Indonesia has not checked the accuracy of, and accepts no responsibility for the content.

Bisnis Indonesia - Kawasan Sarbagita: Urgensi penataan transportasi Bali

18 December 2024

By Harian Noris Saputra

Bisnis, Denpasar – Integrating and sustaining different modes of transportation in Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan (Sarbagita) is considered urgent to enhance tourism and boost Bali's economy.

This was highlighted in a transportation study conducted by the Australian government through the Indonesia Australia Partnership for Infrastructure (KIAT). The study focuses on southern Bali, covering four regencies and cities: Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan, collectively known as Sarbagita.

The KIAT study includes the Sarbagita Electric Bus Rapid Transit (e-BRT), the Ulapan Mobility Plan (UMP), and the Kuta Circulator.

The study results indicate that public transportation in the Sarbagita areas is underdeveloped. Meanwhile, the reliance on public transportation is urgent, as mobility is currently sustained by private vehicles such as cars and motorcycles.

Furthermore, the Bali Transportation Agency has noted that road traffic in Bali has become congested due to the need to support tourism activities, with the number of tourists reaching 13 million annually.

Acting Bali Governor Sang Made Mahendra Jaya explained that the transportation system in Sarbagita has not yet achieved the standards of an advanced transportation ecosystem.

He added that this is evident from the predominance of private vehicles used by residents.

He also highlighted that the growth rate of vehicles in Bali is outpacing the expansion of the road network.

He added that this issue is exacerbated by the poor quality of pedestrian facilities, the lack of connectivity among public transportation services, and the low public interest in using public transport.

"If we do not take action to address this issue, the situation will deteriorate, leading to economic losses, energy waste, reduced tourism competitiveness, and increased stress, respiratory diseases, and other complications that will diminish the quality of life for residents," he explained on Tuesday (17/12).

Mahendra Jaya affirmed that enhancing mobility in Sarbagita must be undertaken comprehensively, involving cooperation across various sectors and authorities.

"Improved mobility cannot be achieved merely by providing main transportation routes. We need feeder services, first mile/last mile transportation, transport within the area, better pedestrian facilities, spatial planning, street vendor organisation, logistics transportation, and effective metropolitan governance," he stated.

Therefore, the Bali Provincial Government is allocating resources and implementing policies to support transportation development in Bali, in line with the findings of the KIAT study.

"One of our commitments is providing land from the Bali Provincial Government to be used as a depot and constructing the necessary supporting infrastructure for the e-BRT project and transportation services in Ulapan," he stated.

Feasibility

Meanwhile, Australia's Consul General, Jo Stevens, explained that the Australian government will continue to support the development of transportation in Indonesia, aiming to make it more inclusive and accessible for everyone.

One of the solutions involves providing safe and sustainable transportation in the Sarbagita areas. 

"Australia has supported feasibility studies to assess the viability of projects in Sarbagita and the planned routes," Stevens explained.

He also expressed his hope that the ongoing knowledge transfer will benefit Indonesia, particularly Bali.

Stevens added that his country is currently developing a strategy to promote equality for people with disabilities. Additionally, they are proposing the use of zero-emission transportation to prevent congestion, aligning with global commitments to combat global warming.

Bisnis reported that the feasibility study for implementing the electric bus service in Sarbagita will be formalised through a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between various parties, including Millennium Challenge Account-Indonesia (MCA Indonesia), KIAT, and the Bali Provincial Government.

In this megaproject, KIAT and BCU are designated as the implementers of the feasibility study.

MCA Indonesia has pledged to fund the project's development if the feasibility study concludes that the Sarbagita areas are viable. The project's value is estimated to reach US$95 million.

 

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